50 percent reduction in mintage! A gorgeous keepsake for art collectors! Order today!

In the early 18th century, much of this country's vast land remained relatively uncharted. Few settlers could anticipate the enormity of the terrain that lay to the west, beyond Lake Superior, in a time when stories of a "great western sea" stirred the imagination of those seeking a shorter route to the trading riches of the Far East. Inspired by First Nations accounts of a western waterway, French-Canadian soldier and fur trader Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye (1685-1749) set out to discover this mythical body of water. His journey would open up the land and waterways of present-day Manitoba, bringing La Vérendrye and his men farther into the Canadian West than any previous explorer of European descent.

From 1731 to 1743, La Vérendrye's expedition brought the era of exploration beyond the Great Lakes, reaching all the way to the eastern edges of the Rocky Mountains. Largely unheralded in his time, La Vérendrye has since become a historical figure whose perseverance and sense of adventure embodies the very spirit of the voyageur experience that shaped the history of Canada.

Own an original work of art depicting one of Canada's most renowned and compelling historical figures. Order today!

Special features:

50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN MINTAGE! This year's mintage is only 1,000—a 50% lower mintage from the previous year!

Beautifully crafted in 99.99% pure gold!

Fifth coin in the continuing Great Canadian Explorers series, which commemorates the more than 400 years of exploration that have shaped the history of Canada as we know it today.

HISTORICAL ACCURATE! Impeccably engraved with great attention paid to historical accuracy and details—the result is a powerful portrait of French-Canadian explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye on his journey into the Canadian West.

MULTIPLE FINISHES AND TEXTURES enhance the details that provide a more natural look and feel to La Vérendrye, the First Nations guide, and the outdoor setting as the expedition prepares to press westward on their continuing journey.

HIGHLIGHTS THE FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CANADA and throughout its history and the role that First Nations guides played in La Vérendrye's exploration of present-day Manitoba.

Your coin is GST/HST exempt.

About the Design:

Designed by Canadian artist Glen Green, your coin features a full-length portrait of the famous French-Canadian explorer and fur trader, Pierre Gaultier De Varennes et De La Vérendrye. The explorer is depicted in a campaign uniform, complete with a trimmed tricorn hat made of beaver fur, a sword beneath his capote and a military officer's distinctive gorget at his neck. Moving along the rocky shores of Lakes of the Woods with a compass in hand, La Vérendrye uses the butt of his musket to steady an occasional step while his attention remains fixed on the horizon, in search of the fabled "great western sea." Just a few steps to his left, a First Nations guide—one of the many whose advice and assistance was essential to the expedition—holds a hunting bow as he advises La Vérendrye, while a member of this expedition stands next to a canoe on the shore. In the background looms the outline of Fort St. Charles; built by the expedition in 1732, this key trading post is made visible by its palisades, with two of its four bastions standing out among the surrounding forest. Meticulous engraving enhances this historical snapshot, adding intricate details and textures to the period clothing in a manner that transforms this depiction into a fitting tribute to a historical figure and a striking collectible piece of art.

Packaging:

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a black beauty box.

Beautiful coin! The design is the best in the explorer series in my opinion. They really did a lot with the small area without making the coin look too busy, it also wouldn't look as good if they gave the coin a more austere look so to me this design strikes a perfect balance. My coin came flawless and I'm sure it would score a 70 if sent in for grading. This is my favorite coin of the year along with the silver pop art coin, I actually can't believe that both are still available.

The mint use to come out with silver dollars in the past to celebrate the achievements of explorers. Why are they not doing this anymore. I really like the design of this $200 gold coin but it's pricey for the average collector. Having the same design as a silver dollar with a limited mintage would be a real popular series and a definite quick sellout

Hi Spike - this coin contains 15.43 grams of 99.99% pure gold. We don't currently value our collector coins by precious metal content, so we couldn't tell you the value of metal in this product.

To a collector, a coin can be precious for many reasons. Some collectors make their purchase decisions based on rarity or "mintage" (the total number of coins produced of a given design), while others might choose a coin for value as a work of art. Ultimately, the decision of which coin to purchase is a personal one, and will be influenced by your interests and design preferences.

Answered on 2/10/2016 by Anonymous

A:

its about half an ounce, real gold value around 850 to 900 can. dollars

Answered on 2/17/2016 by Silbermuenze from Vancouver Canada

A:

As I understand it, the coin is priced upon cost to manufacture and the current price of gold, thus the asking price. As I understand it, for example if the price of gold falls to $35 per ounce, the Government of Canada guarantees that the minimum value of the coin will be what is marked - $200.

Answered on 10/26/2016 by William from North Vancouver, BC

Q:

On February 9, 2016

If you have an investment in gold what is the procedure, if you need cash, to access and exchange your gold in canadian currency ? and how long does this procedure take ?Thank you.

Hi O - this is a collector coin. Although the Royal Canadian Mint sells new collector coins directly to the public through its boutiques and online store, it does buy or sell gold directly to the public, relying instead on a distribution network of retailers. To find out more about bullion coins please visit http://www.mint.ca/bullion

You can be assured that the Mint fully guarantees the superior quality and craftsmanship of its products. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can simply return it to us in its original packaging within 30 days and we will gladly offer you a replacement (subject to product availability) or send you a full refund. In the case of a defective product, we will accept the return up to one year from the date of purchase.